Ground beef recalled! The words that are spinning in our minds these days and have caused a lot of worries. Multiple reports of poisoning have prompted a recall of 167,000 Wolverine ground beefs, and concerns over meat poisoning have increased. We are here to tell you what to do!
167 thousand pounds of ground beef recalled: why and how?
In one of the largest recent food recalls, Wolverine Packing Co. Collected over 167,000 pounds of ground beef from the market. This caused many people to search for “ground beef recalled” and want to know what is behind the scenes?! The reason for this ground beef recall was the possibility of contamination of these products with the dangerous bacteria E. coli O157:H7. The meats were shipped to various restaurants across the United States.
So far, reports have shown that the contamination has infected at least 15 people in the state of Minnesota. E. coli O157:H7 bacteria can cause severe gastrointestinal illness such as bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and abdominal cramps, symptoms of which usually appear 2 to 8 days after consuming contaminated meat. The action of this company is an example of the importance of monitoring food quality and the need to pay attention to nutritional safety.
The importance of fully cooking ground beef: from prevention to health
Due to the type of processing, minced meat is more exposed to dangerous bacteria and germs than whole meat. When meat is ground, its surface area of contact with air, tools, and other materials increases, thereby increasing the possibility of transmission of microbes.
One of the most effective ways to prevent the transmission of bacteria such as E. coli is to thoroughly cook meat. According to health recommendations, ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). This temperature ensures that all bacteria and pathogens are destroyed. Using a cooking thermometer is the best way to ensure meat reaches a safe temperature.
Important points:
The meat should be brown or gray with no traces of pink or red color remaining.
Use medium to high heat to cook the meat evenly.
When cooking, use separate containers for raw and cooked ingredients.
Health recommendations for safe consumption of meat
Washing hands and tools: Always wash hands, cutting boards, knives, and other tools that have come into contact with raw meat with warm soapy water.
Storing meat in the refrigerator: Raw meat should be kept at a temperature of 0 to 4 degrees Celsius and must be frozen if not used.
Avoiding undercooked meat: Consuming undercooked or raw meat increases the risk of gastrointestinal diseases.
Separation of raw and cooked food: To avoid cross-contamination, raw meat should not come into contact with cooked or ready-to-eat food.
Buy from reliable sources: Make sure that the meat purchased is from health facilities and is packaged safely.
Food poisoning identification checklist
Consumption of contaminated meat can lead to the following symptoms. If you notice any of these things, see your doctor right away:
Bloody diarrhea: one of the most common symptoms of E. coli infection, which is usually accompanied by pain.
Severe abdominal cramps: Abdominal pains that usually appear 2 to 8 days after consuming contaminated meat.
Dehydration: caused by frequent diarrhea and loss of body fluids. Symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth, decreased urination, and extreme fatigue.
Nausea and vomiting: In some cases, you may feel nausea or vomiting.
Fever or severe weakness: If you have a fever or severe weakness, it may indicate an advanced infection.
What is the best way to prevent food poisoning?
Unfortunately, in the last year, the number of food poisoning has increased not only in the United States but in all countries of the world. What do we do with ourselves? If we only adhere to a few simple principles before eating, we will not witness these events:
- Buy from a safe place
- Don’t eat fast food as much as possible
- Avoid raw food
- Find the right amount of heat to cook any food item by searching the internet
- Provide the vitamins your body needs
- Have a healthy diet
- According to the current condition of your body, seek advice from specialist doctors. Especially in terms of longevity! Iranian doctors are the best in this matter.
